Discussing the Christian walk with intention and purpose

Jesus Christ and Chinese Dumplings

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. (Proverbs 11:24-25)

God is Good

Most of the folks that frequent this blog are christians, so to them the notion that God is good is not a foreign concept. It’s reality. God is. And God is good. Anyway, all that is to say, Christ’s goodness was clearly evident today, which is not to say it always isn’t evident, but that today the Father provided a double portion and then some.

So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

Today, the temperature reached a breezy 72 degrees and as I set out this morning it just felt like a Red Bank kind of day. So I loaded the guitar into the truck along with a handful of tracts, and a testimony or two and headed north. Why Red Bank? The answer is kind of silly actually — they have park benches on their sidewalks. It seems the towns around my neck of the woods have removed most of them. Of course the boardwalk down by the beach is loaded, but’s it’s not quite boardwalk weather yet. Soon, but not yet.

I parked on the south-end (before the parking meters begin) and walked down to Starbucks and settled into a recently painted, but dry bench. I don’t frequent Starbucks (that’s a topic for another blog I probably won’t write), but they get a lot of foot traffic. Today’s agenda, for lack of a better word, called for foot traffic. I met a couple nice folks to chat with, but after about an hour or so a guy comes along with his dog and asks if I would please move. Apparently, I was in his spot. Drew was his name and he told me that he comes to this bench regularly to ask for donations for disabled vets. Sure enough, he had a coffee can with a handmade label on it that said, “Please Donate to Our Disabled Veterans.”

There ya go.

We talked a little and he invited me to stay, but I thought I’d probably cramp his style, so outa respect for this older gentleman, I acquiesced. I handed him a Gospel tract and he indicated he a was non-practicing Jew ‘waiting’ for the Messiah. I reminded him that as luck would have it, Jesus was a Jew! Apparently he had heard that before. I shared with him some Old Testament Bible prophecy and told him how Jesus fulfilled all of it with His birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection. Drew wasn’t buying too much of it, but I sensed the wheels were turning inside his head. As I left I challenged him to Google ‘Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ‘ and ask the Lord to reveal Himself in those Bible scriptures.

As I walked away Drew called to me, “David, from now on, you and me are friends!”

His words meant a lot to me. Please pray for Drew that he would follow through with the prayer and prophecy challenge.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

I crossed the street and headed south and settled in by a Chinese restaurant called Temple. The restaurant has tables set up outside on the sidewalk, but it was still early and the place was seemingly closed. I broke out the guitar and started praising Jesus. This actually turned out to be a better spot, at least as it pertained to striking up conversations with pedestrians. I’m thinking that back over at Starbucks most of the folks were on a mission: to get inside to get their coffee or to get back to wherever they were going so they could drink it before it got cold. The people walking over by Temple didn’t seem to be as focused.

“Hey Dave, how ya doin?”

“George!”

As it turns out, George, an old friend, is a waiter at Temple. I knew this, but because of the early hour I didn’t expect to see him. He greeted me over the shrubbery that separates the dining area from the rest of the sidewalk. George is a Christian, a recent college grad and a stellar musician in his own right. He’s also one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet — truly, I’ve never heard a foul or angry word come out of this kids mouth — never. Back in the day when I was assisting with youth-group stuff at a friend’s church, George was one of the regulars. Looking back, I guess he had to attend regularly, as his dad was the youth pastor.

We chatted briefly and he got back to work. In the meantime I had some more wonderful conversations with folks; some believers, but mostly unbelievers. It was just one of those days where I really felt the power of God mingling through all the exchanges we were having. At one point a psychologist (and atheist) sat down and chatted with me. Quite a cheery sort actually, but my heart ached for him because he would not budge from his ‘God is not’ position; to him Jesus Christ was nothing more than an aberration; a placebo for the weak-minded. At one point I felt I was in way over my head with him, but God imparted His peace to me; our words to each other were pleasant and edifying.

“From one musician to another.”

Perhaps an hour went by and George appeared from behind the Temple bushes carrying a ‘takeout’ bag. I assumed he was making a delivery. He took about ten steps and stopped right in front of me, handing me the bag saying, “From one musician to another.” Earlier when we said our hellos, I had teased him about bringing me out some pot stickers.

So what do you think was in the bag?

That’s right — a huge order of fried dumplings (aka: pot stickers). I cannot begin to tell you how blessed this kid made me feel. First, for suggesting that I was a musician (just trust me, I’m not. I play 4 chords and sing loud to cover it up). And second, for feeding me! I had to get up and hug the kid right there on the street. Honestly, I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with him — so much God-given talent, so personable and kind, and such a refreshing sight in this occasionally ugly world where the wicked leave bombs on sidewalks to blow up children.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

I handed out my last tract and headed home, filled today in so many glorious ways. Thanks be to God.